Firefighters to get tracking devices

Devices will be attached on firemen in order to track their vital signs and location in emergency rescue situations, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Department yesterday.

The bracelet-shaped device transmits radio signals to the central headquarters on a real-time basis so as to indicate the firefighter`s location, said officials. It will also sense the person`s vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure, and send an alarm signal if it detects an abnormality.

The system has been successfully test-run in the Dobong Fire Station, said SMFDD officials.

Firemen are difficult to detect when they go missing on scenes of fire or other emergencies, said officials. They are sometimes left neglected, either injured or even dead, until roll call or duty rotation.

"In disaster situations, a means of communication is required to figure out the exact location and physical condition of the firefighters, even when the person has lost consciousness," said a SMFDD official.

"The system, which will soon be fully adopted in all fire stations in Seoul, will greatly contribute to reducing the casualty rate of firemen."

Presently, a total of 33,300 firemen are working in stations nationwide, each responsible for the safety of 1,980 citizens in average, a much heavier burden than that of other OECD countries, according to the SMFDD data last year.

Amid such limited manpower, the tracking system is expected to be all the more effective in keeping the men safe, said officials.

(tellme@heraldm.com)



By Bae Hyun-jung